Voluntary Norfolk celebrates 50 year anniversary

Voluntary Norfolk recently celebrated its 50^th Anniversary with a grass-roots demonstration of its values; volunteer gardening at the Marlpit Community Garden.

The Marlpit Community Garden is a volunteer-run project on the edge of Norwich with vegetable plots, forest garden, apiary, orchard, herb garden, wild-flower areas and meadows.  It provides a welcome green space for families and individuals to grow their own food, take part in some active gardening and enjoy the social and health benefits of being part of a community garden.

Alan Hopley, Chief Executive of Voluntary Norfolk said ‘We have supported voluntary groups and promoted the benefits of volunteering for 50 years and it felt right that we use the occasion of our 50^th Anniversary to demonstrate our commitment to volunteering. I really enjoyed taking part in the event and thank the Marlpit team for opening their garden gate to us.’

Reflecting on the changes to the organisation since 1969, Alan Hopley added ‘Voluntary Norfolk has grown significantly to match the need for services and we now provide a wide range of support for communities and people to improve health, well being and employment within communities across Norfolk.’

Staff, volunteers and trustees joined the gardening session which was timed to coincide with Volunteers Week.  It will be followed by refreshments in the Marlpit Community Centre, which is also volunteer run, and then followed by Voluntary Norfolk’s 2019 AGM.